Selecting a birdhouse for attracting specific birds

How to Choose the Best Birdhouse

Birdhouse styles are numerous, attractive and functional. And if chosen carefully, your birdhouses will add a touch of rustic elegance to your lawn and garden for many years to come.

Birdhouses

Here are a few things to consider:

Your birdhouse should be attractive as well as functional.

Select a house that compliments your property and blends in with the color of your buildings and flowers/shrubbery.

Make sure every birdhouse that you buy has a "clean-out".

This is usually a small door or sliding panel located on the back of most houses, although some houses have the clean-out on the bottom or top.

A clean-out is highly recommended so that you can remove old nesting materials from the house each winter.

Look for high-quality birdhouses.

A well constructed house will last for several years but a poorly made house might last for only a season or two.

Wooden houses should be built using cedar, cypress, or oak if you prefer the natural (unpainted) look. But other woods are fine as well as long as you keep the house painted to protect it from the elements.

Plastic houses make a good alternative to wood. They stand up to the elements well and are lightweight. As with wood, make sure you select a plastic house that is well constructed using thick, durable materials.

If you plan to purchase an expensive house, make sure it comes with a money back guarantee so that you can return it if you're unhappy with it.

It's quite a letdown when you pay $50 or more for a house only to find that you don't like it and there is no return option.

These suggestions should help you select a house that will provide shelter for the birds and enjoyment for you for quite some time. The birds will thank you and you'll enjoy the benefits for many years!

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